College to close dairy and expand beef enterprise

Warwickshire College will make ‘significant changes’ to its farm enterprises including closing its dairy in order to specialise on enterprises which are core to farming in the county.

Following a review, the Warwickshire College Group, has decided to make the changes to Nethermorton Farm and the farming enterprises at Moreton Morrell College.

The group has said: “The review was commissioned in light of changes in the sector and to ensure the farm was reflective of current industry best practice. It concluded that to improve the experience for prospective and current students the farm should specialise on the enterprises which are core to the local farming economy; these being beef, sheep and arable farming. These changes will see a substantial expansion of the beef enterprise, a doubling of the college’s flock of sheep and a considerable increase in the hectarage and variety of cropping on the college farm.

“As part of these changes the college has decided to move out of milk production and will be dispersing the current dairy herd. Dairy will still very much remain part of the curriculum and the college will in future be working with external partners to deliver this module.

“Additionally, and to bring a stronger commercial approach to the running of the farm, the college has decided to partner with Velcourt in the management of the operations of the farm and farm enterprises. Velcourt are a leading provider of farm management services across the UK and internationally, and most importantly have a proven experience in running college farms.”